wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mag”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “mag”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 4 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
e-Boekhouden.nl shows at wp.org #18 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.3★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #1 2 
ImgSEO – AI Image Alt Text Generator & Image SEO Tools 400+ · 5.0★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 3 
WP Storefront – Magento 2 Product Showcase 80+ · 5.0★ (9) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
IPTV Reseller Bridge — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 T TheSEO llms txt Generator — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Earthquake Monitor 40+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too low 7 
HashThemes Demo Importer 6K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
TraumaRadar — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Candid Advanced Toolset 900+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Combidesk – Twinfield voor WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Sonoquill – AI Podcast Production — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 12 
Planaday API 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Planaday Connector 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too high 14 
ThemeinWP Import Companion 3K+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 15 E Elegant Blog Themes Demo Importer 500+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 16 
DRYVE | Online marketing 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too low 17 
Pressroom 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 M Mag mailer form — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 3 too low 19 
Paperlit 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 
ERP CONNECTOR by AC SOFTWARE SP. Z O.O. 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 W Widget Actualites Relation Client 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22 
Kripto Para Dönüştürücü ve Döviz Hesaplama 40+ · 3.5★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 23 e-Boekhouden.nl 100+ · 1.3★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.